Three arrested for diesel-fuel thefts

Tuesday

Jun 10, 2008 at 7:42 PMJun 10, 2008 at 7:43 PM

By KATHERINE ROSENBERG Staff Writer

LUCERNE VALLEY — Authorities were able to track and arrest three people they believe stole 150 gallons of diesel fuel from the local school district, as well as a metal tank likely taken to store the fuel.

It began when deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Victor Valley station stopped a man on a bicycle near the intersection of Barstow and Sunset roads on June 2.

The man looked suspicious as he was riding around near the Lucerne Valley Unified School District, which was closed, as were all surrounding businesses, said Stella Hodson, spokeswoman for the station.

The man was identified as John Hall, 34, of Lucerne Valley, who is a parolee who had a no-bail parole violation warrant. Hall's clothing appeared to be covered in diesel fuel, Hodson said.

Authorities were then made aware that at 5:30 a.m. the same day, the Lucerne Valley Unified School District's bus yard had been burglarized, and 150 gallons of diesel fuel had gone missing.

The investigation culminated in the arrest of Hall, Lena Winn, 25, and Michelle Frazier, 38, all of Lucerne Valley. All three were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, both for the theft of the tank itself and for the theft of the fuel.